As a concerned Canadian, I see the exporting of the American Model, not by individuals, certainly not by any everythingian--are any of us members of the power elite? Why would they be here, anyway?

It is discouraging, trying to effect positive change. I'm not sure what the first step is, except try to see things clearly One of the things I am doing here, as some others, too, just that.

An After Reflection:

mcSey's freedom spolight is the notion I was struggling for. This is exactly the way consciousness works.

WHO DIRECTS THE SPOTLIGHT?

In The Electric Kool-Aid Acid TestTom Wolfe describes the not so good experience of someone on acid for the first, or later, time: she couldn't control her senses, they directed her--they flashed spotlights of wild lights, sounds, tactile sensations, all beyond her control!

Unfortunately I think the only people the care enough to revolt at this point are fascists, dictators, and zealots. I worry a lot about this and do my thing to keep us near the top of the slippery slope, but that's the problem with the path we've chosen -- there's no way back to the top.

That said, are we really throwing away our freedom? The myth of a Jeffersonian United States was like chivalry, a myth when it was created. In the 19th century the government wouldn't dream of telling you what to put in your body. Twain said, "The one thing I do certainly own is my body." Drug laws didn't exist. Sex laws sure as hell did though. Everything from sodomy to anti-miscegenation (sic?) laws were commonplace since our founding. We don't have many of those anymore (note sodomy laws preventing heterosexual oral intercourse are still on the books in Georgia).

It's like a freedom spotlight. Whichever of our freedoms we hold dear at the moment, we can have, but the rest remain hidden in the darkness surrounding our light. Can we get some nice even flourescent freedom lights?

To coffy the bears became alligators, the natives became home invading crooks, and the Redcoats became jackbooted thugs. Also remember Dman is in Australia (right D?) -- he's got much recent experience with the government taking away his civil liberties. He's had his guns taken away. He's had his Internet state censored.

--Outpost Mir--: Legislators already are passing laws that violate the Bill of Rights. Such laws include the DMCA and UCITA. Because the courts do not understand technology, they might not throw the law out if challenged because they do not fully understand it and might be led to believe that it is, in fact, constitutional. You seem to disregard the fact that the people who want to take away liberty are the people with the money. A person with money is much more likely to win any case over a person without money. Consequently, saying that they wouldn't be able to nullify the Bill of Rights doesn't matter, because they are already passing laws that violate it.

The Bill of Rights is just some words on a piece of paper. If it is not enforced, it means nothing. It does not prevent Congress from doing the things they're doing because it is not being duly enforced.

"Oh, and by the way, they couldn't sick the military or such plots on us without attracting attention from every other democratic nation on EarthThey would take notice.They would do something."

This is incorrect. These same democratic governments you talk about model their governments after the United States government. These same democratic governments you speak of are also taking away the rights of their citizens. You say they would all be up in arms, but they're doing the same thing.